The NHS Service Project this year will be a collection of cooperative efforts with the children’s home in Zagreb, their main service goal being to organize dynamic, educational and fun activities with young children. The group of students was eagerly greeted by the youngest members of the home as Mrs. Svjetlana Tončetić-Bogović, head of the department, showed them around the home.

The Dječji dom Zagreb is an institution of social welfare that provides care for children without parents or without appropriate parental care. The children’s home opened in 1888 as a result of the decision regarding the establishment of royal state orphanages from the funds of Eduard the Baron of Jellachich. It was originally managed by the Sisters of Mercy and Sister Magna Saurer for over 25 years, but is now run and funded by the Croatian government in partnership with the City of Zagreb.

The NHS has decided to open up the volunteering opportunity to CAS students. We visit the home on a weekly basis to connect with the children through fun and games. In addition, the NHS has opened up a donations box and asked the AISZ community for help in collecting learning materials and clothing for children up to 7 years of age. Having promoted our service project at various school events, the NHS donation fund for the DDZ project is growing.